Moving out of the UK but renewing spouse visas

[Mahir_gazdar]

Dear Sir /Madam,

I am a British Citizen and my wife is an Indian Citizen. My wife arrived in the UK on 29/02/2012 and has a UK Spouse Visa valid until 14/04/2014. My wife traveled without me (with my parents) to Saudi Arabia in 11/2012 for 2 weeks while I was in the UK and then to India from 12/2012 until 02/2013 while I was working in Saudi Arabia. My wife came to the UK again without me in 02/2013 and stayed in the UK until 06/2013 then lived with me in Saudi Arabia from 06/2013 until 09/2013 then she returned to India while I came to the UK. She has been with me in the UK since 11/2013 and soon I am due to return to work in Saudi Arabia. My wife was living outside for 9 months and her visa expires in 04/2014. Since 02/2012, most of the time we have been out of the UK and living separately for 7 months. I will be working in the Middle East for the foreseeable future so I would like to sponsor her to join me in Saudi Arabia after I start working.

Can my wife get indefinate leave to remain in the UK? If not, can she extend her spouse visa? If so, how long will the process take? Can the visa be etended only once? Will my wife's passport be taken from her and if so, when will it be returned? How much does a UK Spouse Visa cost and how much is a UK Tourist Visa? Please let me know. Thank you


Yours faithfully,

Mr Mahir Gazdar

[Wanderer]

If your intention as a couple is not to settle in UK then ILR is not possible and neither is FLR. There is no path to 'remote British Citizenship' if that's the plan...

[Amber]

Absences for employment should be reasonable if they're limited. You should either settle or extend with proof of a subsisting relationship when outside the UK.

[Mahir_gazdar]

I will be going back to Saudi Arabia in Feb and my wife will be away from me again for 3-4 months. I will be going for a long time as I will be trying to settle in the Middle East. Is there a strong enough case to apply for indefinate leave to remain?

[Wanderer]

I will be going back to Saudi Arabia in Feb and my wife will be away from me again for 3-4 months. I will be going for a long time as I will be trying to settle in the Middle East. Is there a strong enough case to apply for indefinate leave to remain?

Given the circs you describe, I'd think it's impossible.

[Amber]

Perhaps not if you're wanting to settle in another Country. Perhaps consider settling in the UK for the foreseeable future until such times as your spouse is British.